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Saving up enough money for a down payment is challenging enough for most first-time homebuyers, but the red-hot housing market is making things even more difficult.
In many cities across the United States, affordable homes receive multiple offers within a few days.
Read more: How I paid off my $86,000 mortgage in 2 years
A new study from Zillow, the online real estate database company, found that first-time buyers looking for an affordable home should consider the Southeast.
In addition to lower prices, there’s more inventory in cities like Orlando and Tampa.
San Antonio, Atlanta and Dallas are less competitive compared to other parts of the country, Zillow’s study revealed. Buyers there can expect to see strong growth over the next year.
These metrics were used to determine Zillow’s best markets for first-time buyers:
“As millennials reach the typical home buying age, they are coming into a tough housing market with low inventory and lots of competition,” said Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Svenja Gudell. “These markets have more favorable conditions for first-time buyers to become homeowners. More challenging metros aren’t out of reach for new buyers, but they should be prepared to face a more competitive buying environment.”
On the other hand, cities in the Northeast and West were least favorable for first-time buyers, the study found.
Zillow says a 5% down payment in the San Francisco Bay Area is larger than a 20% down payment in most of the cities on this list. Location really does make a difference!
Read more in Clark Howard’s guide for first-time homebuyers.
This post was last modified on May 15, 2017 4:29 pm
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